Grocery options are expanding for Dripping Springs residents as Sprouts Farmers Market plans a new location off Hwy. 290.

The details: The 23,262-square-foot store is slated to break ground in February and to be completed in August. Construction is estimated to cost $4.5 million, according to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing.

Sprouts Farmers Market offers a variety of organic, natural and gluten-free foods. Community Impact is working to confirm the exact location of the store.

• E Hwy. 290, Dripping Springs

Fresca Palapa opened at Barton Creek Square in September, serving Mexican-inspired drinks and snacks.

The details: Located on the shopping center's upper level, the shop offers a variety of smoothies and aguas frescas, including cucumber, watermelon and mango.

The menu also includes snacks such as fruit cups served with Tajín, elote cups, nachos, and Hot Cheetos topped with melted cheese and jalapeños.

• 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., Austin

Travis County will spend up to $67.8 million on three new STAR Flight helicopters, about $7.8 million more than the county had planned.

Commissioners voted unanimously Nov. 10 to approve a contract with Bell Textron for three Bell 412EPX helicopters, with the option of a fourth. The first is due by the end of 2027.

Why it matters: STAR Flight provides air ambulance service, search and rescue, and aerial firefighting. Its current fleet has two helicopters available only about 75% of the time, and the program uses its third helicopter for parts because replacements take so long to arrive, STAR Flight officials said.

The cost: The county will pay from its reserves for now and repay itself with debt it plans to issue in spring 2027. The total does not include money from selling the current fleet.

In its inaugural year, The Center for Nonprofit Success has begun providing professional development, resources and tools for a couple dozen nonprofit organizations throughout Central Texas.

Called a capacity-building organization because it aims to give back time to local nonprofit leaders, the initiative is a partnership between the Georgetown Health Foundation and the Central Texas Community Foundation.

The overview: While The Center for Nonprofit Success officially launched in June, the team has been working for the last two years to build its platform, said Andy Davis, vice president of education and capacity building at the Georgetown Health Foundation.

At its core, the organization offers an online portal that members can access 24/7, Executive Director Melinda Brasher said.

Quote of note: “What we have tried to build is a resource center that allows [nonprofits] to be efficient at their job by providing answers to questions in a very timely manner and giving them access to others in their community that they can lean on for peer support,” Davis said.